LARGE Format - Suitable for enormous prints metres wide

Photographer's Blog - Tuesday, March 17, 2015: Lake Buffalo & Hotham

Well my grand plans of visiting far north Queensland, as mentioned in the previous blog entry, have unfortunately fallen through. When I actually added up the cost of flights and car hire I was surprised how expensive it would be compared to my usual road trip / dirt bagging it method. Expanding my portfolio into the further flung places of Australia might need a little more planning, with a view to maybe going next year if I can round up enough cash.

In the meantime some more car camping trips have been possible, including the long day trip that secured these shots. Initially I headed off through the night to Hotham to work on JB Plain Hut, but it ended up taking far longer than expected to get some good light on it and have the flowers open at the same time. As a result it was after lunch before I departed.

I punched in "Craigs Hut" into the GPS and without really looking at it, headed off quickly hoping to make sunset. Well I'm sure everyone has a "but the GPS told me too" story, and I guess this is mine. Before long the digital demon had pointed me in the direction of some off road tracks, and being keen to see how the Forrester would go I set off. I'm pleased to say the vehicle did an amazing job gliding up extremely steep rocky outcrops with ease, but it was all taking way too long. I'd covered maybe 20% of the track in the space of an hour. There was no way I could make sunset.

The final straw was meeting some well flustered drivers coming down towards me who were intimidated by the terrain they'd just covered in trucks and camper trailers more suited to the role. They wanted to know how to get out, and seriously recommended I not venture further on. Given my time constraints, I agreed and lead them out the way I'd come in. They were most grateful.

All that left me casting about for an alternative sunset location in a hurry. I'd shot Lake Buffalo before many years ago, and knew I could just make it in time. Before long I was set up on the shoreline and waiting there with insects buzzing around me, my feet slowing sinking into the murk and young people in various states of inebriation slicing through my scene in thunderous motorboats. Somehow, I'm not quite sure how, they left me a few moments between their strafing runs for my reflections to calm and some long exposures to be possible. The light was truly amazing, as is hopefully evident in these images.

My next trip should see me heading off to Flinders Ranges and further exploring the South Australian outback, where I can be sure to keep costs down to not much more than petrol and the occasional coffee. Hoping I'll have something to show you soon. Thanks for reading, and all the best.